Brittle, crumbly shells

[warmfuzzies]

My in-laws give us eggs all the time and I have noticed something funny going on with their eggs. IT's pretty subtle, but the shells are getting a little crumbly or brittle. They aren't soft, but I often have to pick out shells now because they don't hold up.

The chickens eat scratch grains but they are free-range and they get tons of bugs and other yummy stuff in the hay fields. They have been on this diet for awhile so I don't think it's from that. They are sex-links that are going on their 3rd year, so I am thinking that this is just a sign of the egg quality deteriorating.

Yes? no? Any ideas?

 

[duckinnut]

Could be a factor of all. As they age I would think that they might not be getting what should out of food, with just scratch and free range I would think they are probably not getting the calcium they need to make eggs. If they were on layer the problem might not be present and if they had free choice oyster shell. Could be a worm infestation too.